Latest Press Release:
6/7/06 - DANB Publishes Career Ladder Templates for Dental Assistants

Previous Press Releases:
2/21/06 - Two New DANB-Administered State Exams Launched in 2006
10/12/05 - ADAA/DANB Alliance Publishes Position Paper on National Model for Dental Assisting
9/28/05 - Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. Elects New Board Members
9/28/05 - Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. Elects New Board Officers
6/29/2006 - Dental Assistants Support National Model for Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Dawn Capper
1-800-FOR-DANB, ext. 419
marketing@danb.org

CHICAGO (June 7, 2006) – The Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB) announces the publication of DANB’s 2006 State Career Ladder Templates for Dental Assistants, a reader-friendly guide to dental assisting requirements for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. This new volume is intended to guide readers to a clearer understanding of how each state defines the job titles and the legal practice of dental assistants and (in some states) orthodontic and oral and maxillofacial surgery assistants.

Each state’s Career Ladder Template contains information drawn from that state’s dental practice act, which DANB provided to all state dental boards for review and approval. The template specifies the tasks, if any, a dental assistant can perform without any education, training, or exams; the required level of supervision; and the precise entry-level job title in that state. Each template then defines the requirements (such as coursework or exams) that an assistant would need to complete in order to move up the career ladder.

DANB’s Career Ladder project is part of a larger initiative to support the development of a national career ladder model for dental assistants, based on one set of core tasks, levels, and requirements. Understanding that state practice act provisions are the purview of each state, if dental assistants who are qualified to perform certain duties in one state are recognized as competent in other states, recruitment, employment, and job satisfaction of qualified assistants will improve. This will also allow dentists to focus on dentistry while assistants perform delegated duties, thus increasing access to care.

DANB’s 2006 State Career Ladder Templates for Dental Assistants will prove invaluable to anyone who is just entering the field of dental assisting, to those seeking career guidance, or to those wanting to understand the often complex rules and regulations for each state. It will help assistants who plan to relocate, who are interested in continuing their educations, or who seek to develop their professional responsibilities and skills. It will also aid state dental board members and officials who are interested in comparing their state’s requirements to others.

To obtain an order form for DANB’s 2006 State Career Ladder Templates for Dental Assistants, visit
www.danb.org or call 1-800-FOR-DANB.

A sample template and a guide to its interpretation is presented below:

About DANB
DANB is recognized by the American Dental Association as the premier national certification and testing agency for dental assistants. DANB’s certification programs are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). DANB serves the public good by providing a means of identifying qualified and competent dental assistants and by measuring and promoting excellence in oral healthcare delivery.

As a Mark of Dental Assisting Excellence™, DANB Certification is a source of pride for those who achieve it. Currently, there are more than 31, 000 DANB Certificants nationwide, and DANB credentials are recognized or required in 35 states. For those dental assistants who meet the eligibility and exam requirements, Certification may be earned in one or more of the following areas:

• Certified Dental Assistant – CDA®
• Certified Orthodontic Assistant – COA®
• Certified Dental Practice Management Administrator – CDPMA®

In addition to these three national credentials, DANB offers Certificates of Competency in Radiation Health and Safety (RHS®) and Infection Control (ICE®). The RHS and ICE exams are components of the CDA exam, and ICE is also a component of the COA exam, but individuals may take these components separately in order to earn Certificates of Competency. Passing either or both of these exams allows a dental assistant to demonstrate competence in these two areas that are very important to the health and safety of oral healthcare workers and patients alike.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Dawn Capper
1-800-FOR-DANB, ext. 419
marketing@danb.org

CHICAGO (February 21, 2006) – The Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB), the premier testing and credentialing agency for dental assistants, launched two new state exams in 2006: the Arizona Coronal Polishing (AZCP) Exam and the Delaware Dental Radiological Technology (DDRT) Exam. This exciting development brings the total of states offering DANB-administered state exams up to 11; DANB’s national exams are recognized or required in 35 states. (See “About DANB” later in this press release for more information on DANB’s national exams.)

Each state choosing to offer a state-specific exam works with DANB to craft an exam and (if desired) certificate program tailored to meet the particular requirements of the state’s dental practice act. This allows the state to test its dental assistants in the areas it deems most important, without the long-term financial and staffing responsibilities that accompany the creation, management, and maintenance of an independent examination program for dental assistants.

Arizona Coronal Polishing Exam
The Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners (ASBDE) now offers the AZCP Exam as one of the requirements for dental assistants who wish to earn the Arizona Coronal Polishing Certificate. This certificate will allow the assistant to perform coronal polishing duties within the state under the general supervision of a licensed dentist. DANB has been contracted to administer the complete certificate program, a service that includes providing exam information, distributing applications, testing, issuing certificates, and handling inquiries.

To acquire the Arizona Coronal Polishing Certificate, a dental assistant must pass the AZCP Exam, submit an Arizona Coronal Polishing Clinical Skills Affidavit (completed by a licensed dentist or a coronal polishing educator/course instructor), and submit a completed Arizona Coronal Polishing Certificate Application to DANB. The AZCP exam is currently available in a written format, and will also be available on computer as early as April 2006.

Delaware Dental Radiological Technology Exam
Also new in 2006 (effective September 1) is the computerized DDRT Exam, which is administered by DANB under an agreement with the Delaware Division of Public Health, Office of Radiation Control (Delaware ORC).

To expose radiographs in the state of Delaware, dental assistants must earn a state certificate from the Delaware ORC by first submitting a completed state certificate application, Form R-16, to the Delaware ORC and then applying for and passing the DDRT Exam. Application for the DDRT is through DANB.

To download the AZCP Exam Fact Sheet and Application, visit DANB’s website at www.danb.org or call 1-800-FOR-DANB. For information about the DDRT exam, call 1-800-FOR-DANB or email danbmail@danb.org.

About DANB
DANB is recognized by the American Dental Association as the premier national certification and testing agency for dental assistants. DANB’s certification programs are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). DANB serves the public good by providing a means of identifying qualified and competent dental assistants and by measuring and promoting excellence in oral healthcare delivery.

As a Mark of Dental Assisting Excellence™, DANB Certification is a source of pride for those who achieve it. Currently, there are more than 31,000 DANB Certificants nationwide, and DANB credentials are recognized or required in 35 states. For those dental assistants who meet the eligibility and exam requirements, Certification may be earned in one or more of the following areas:

• Certified Dental Assistant – CDA®
• Certified Orthodontic Assistant – COA®
• Certified Dental Practice Management Administrator – CDPMA®

In addition to these three national credentials, DANB offers Certificates of Competency in Radiation Health and Safety (RHS®) and Infection Control (ICE®). The RHS and ICE exams are components of the CDA exam, and ICE is also a component of the COA exam, but individuals may take these components separately in order to earn Certificates of Competency. Passing either or both of these exams allows a dental assistant to demonstrate competence in these two areas that are very important to the health and safety of oral healthcare workers and patients alike.

For more information about DANB, call 1-800-FOR-DANB or visit www.danb.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Dawn Capper
1-800-FOR-DANB, ext. 419
marketing@danb.org

CHICAGO (October 12, 2005) – The Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.® (DANB®) and the American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA) are pleased to announce the publication of the Position Paper of the ADAA/DANB Alliance: Addressing a Uniform National Model for the Dental Assisting Profession. Shortly after the publication in 2000 of Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General, the ADAA/DANB Alliance initiated The DANB/ADAA Study to Define and Rank Order Core Competencies for Dental Assistants. The results of this study and a comprehensive analysis of their implications on the dental assisting profession and the delivery of oral healthcare services have been published in the Position Paper of the ADAA/DANB Alliance: Addressing a Uniform National Model for the Dental Assisting Profession.

The 138-page document will serve the public interest by disseminating information on the results to the following: federal-level health agencies (such as the Office of the Surgeon General and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), state Boards of Dentistry, state dental associations, organized dentistry (i.e. professional membership organizations representing various groups of dental professionals), oral health advocacy groups (such as Oral Health America), dental-related corporations, dental schools and dental assisting programs accredited by the ADA’s Commission on Dental Accreditation, other dental assisting programs (not ADA-accredited), coordinators of high school vocational education programs, and other
various policymakers and public health organizations.

Formed to address many issues related to the dental assisting profession, the ADAA/DANB Alliance set as one of its primary goals the definition and ranking of core dental assisting competencies (from most basic to most complex) in support of one national set of tasks, levels, and minimum requirements to perform these tasks, and to reinforce the concept of a viable career ladder for assistants.

The position paper draws upon the results of the Core Competency research to define and rank order core competencies for dental assistants and recommend minimum requirements for performing these competencies. A uniform national model of dental assisting tasks and requirements to perform those tasks will enable dentists to delegate identified tasks to dental assistants who have met educational/training requirements and have demonstrated competency on the tasks. This will allow dentists to focus on dentistry and assistants to perform delegated duties, with appropriate education, training, and credentialing (if required), thus increasing access to care.

Defining the duties of dental assistants, identifying educational/training requirements, and providing a legally defensible and psychometrically sound way to demonstrate competency will strengthen the dental team, making it more efficient, more cost-effective, and, most importantly, better able to meet the oral healthcare needs of the public. Go to www.danb.org to download an Executive Summary of the Position Paper and/or an order form to request a copy (via fax or mail to DANB) of the entire report for $15.

About DANB
DANB is recognized by the American Dental Association as the premier national certification and testing agency for dental assistants. DANB’s certification programs are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). DANB serves the public good by providing a means of identifying qualified and competent dental assistants and by measuring and promoting excellence in oral healthca re delivery. As a Mark of Dental Assisting Excellence™, DANB Certification is a source of pride for those who achieve it. Currently, there are more than 31, 000 DANB Certificants nationwide, and DANB credentials are recognized or required in 34 states. For those dental assistants who meet the eligibility and exam requirements,
Certification may be earned in one or more of the following areas:

• Certified Dental Assistant – CDA®
• Certified Orthodontic Assistant – COA®
• Certified Dental Practice Management Administrator – CDPMA®

In addition to these three national credentials, DANB offers Certificates of Competency in Radiation Health and Safety (RHS®) and Infection Control (ICE®). The RHS and ICE exams are components of the CDA exam, and ICE is also a component of the COA exam, but individuals may take these components separately in order to earn Certificates of Competency. Passing either or both of these exams allows a dental assistant to demonstrate competence in these two areas that are very important to the health and safety of oral healthcare workers and patients alike. For more information about DANB, call 1-800-FOR-DANB or visit www.danb.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Dawn Capper
1-800-FOR-DANB, ext. 419
marketing@danb.org

CHICAGO (September 28, 2005) – The Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.® (DANB®) is pleased to announce that three new members were elected to its Board of Directors during the Board’s August meeting.

American Dental Association (ADA) Representative – Richard F. Hunt III, DDS
Richard F. Hunt III, DDS, was elected to the Dental Assisting National Board’s (DANB’s) Board of Directors as one of two representatives of the ADA. Dr. Hunt received his DDS degree from the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry in 1989. He is a general dentist in Rocky Mount, NC, where he shares a practice with his wife, Dr. Amy W. Hunt. Currently, Dr. Hunt is president-elect of the North Carolina Dental Society; president-elect of the North Carolina Dental Foundation; an alternate delegate to the ADA’s House of Delegates; and a representative of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia on the ADA Council on Dental Practice.

Public Member – Marlene W. Futterman, MA
Marlene W. Futterman, MA, was elected to the position of Public Member on DANB’s Board of Directors. Ms. Futterman holds an MA in international relations from Yale University and consults in organizational management and program development with government and private agencies. Previously, she served as the first Executive Director of the Direct Selling Education Foundation, a position she held for 22 years. Ms. Futterman has served on the board of directors for several non-profit organizations, including the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, the National Coalition for Consumer Education, and the Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals in Business.

American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Representative – Donna M. Kotyk, MA, RDH, CDA
Donna M. Kotyk, MA, RDH, CDA, was elected to the position of American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Representative on DANB’s Board of Directors. Ms. Kotyk holds an MA in Education and an RDH in Dental Hygiene from the University of Michigan; she has been a CDA since 1992 and holds RDH licenses in five states. She currently serves as Dental Assisting Director at Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, MT. She is also a curriculum consultant and staff representative for the ADA’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Ms. Kotyk has served on the Dental Assisting CODA Review Committee and ADEA’s Dental Assisting Program in Education (Chair and Delegate).

DANB’s Board of Directors is comprised of nine representatives from the following stakeholder groups: three members representing the American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA), two members representing the American Dental Association (ADA), one member representing the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), one member representing the American Association of Dental Examiners (AADE), one DANB Certificant elected by his or her peers (Certificant-at-large) and one member who is not from any of these groups, representing the general public (Public Member). Each stakeholder representative is elected to a three-year term, with a maximum of two terms allowed. DANB Executive Director Cynthia Durley, MEd, MBA, is an ex officio member of the DANB Board. For more information on DANB’s governance, including a complete list of the Board of Directors, visit www.danb.org.

DANB is recognized by the American Dental Association as the premier national certification and testing agency for dental assistants. DANB’s certification programs are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). DANB serves the public good by providing a means of identifying qualified and competent dental assistants and by measuring and promoting excellence in oral healthcare delivery. As a Mark of Dental Assisting Excellence™, DANB Certification is a source of pride for those who achieve it. Currently, there are more than 31,000 DANB Certificants nationwide, and DANB credentials are recognized or required in 34 states. For those dental assistants who meet the eligibility and exam requirements, Certification may be earned in one or more of the following areas:

• Certified Dental Assistant – CDA®

• Certified Orthodontic Assistant – COA®

• Certified Dental Practice Management Administrator – CDPMA®

In addition to these three national credentials, DANB offers Certificates of Competency in Radiation Health and Safety (RHS®) and Infection Control (ICE®). The RHS and ICE exams are components of the CDA exam, and ICE is also a component of the COA exam, but individuals may take these components separately in order to earn Certificates of Competency. Passing either or both of these exams allows a dental assistant to demonstrate competence in these two areas that are very important to the health and safety of oral healthcare workers and patients alike.

For more information about DANB, call 1-800-FOR-DANB or visit www.danb.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Dawn Capper
1-800-FOR-DANB, ext. 419
marketing@danb.org

CHICAGO (September 28, 2005) – The Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.® (DANB®) is pleased to announce that the following individuals were elected as officers of the DANB Board of Directors during the Board’s August meeting:

Chair (American Dental Assistants Association Representative) – Judith Andrews, CDA, RDA, EFDA, FADAA
Judith Andrews, CDA, RDA, EFDA, FADAA, was elected to the position of Chair on DANB’s Board of Directors. A DANB Certificant since 1981, she was originally elected to the Board in March 2000 and will complete her second three-year term in August 2006. Ms. Andrews has served on numerous committees and councils of the ADAA and was honored to serve on the National Dental Tobacco Free Steering Committee with the National Institute for seven years. She is currently the editor of Iowa’s publication The Communique. Ms. Andrews currently works for a private practice in Eldora, IA.

Vice Chair (ADAA Representative) – Carla Schneider, CDA, RDA
Carla Schneider, CDA, RDA, was elected to the position of Vice Chair on DANB’s Board of Directors. She earned her DANB Certification in 1990 and is currently fulfilling the final year of a three-year term on the DANB Board for a previous representative of the ADAA. (The DANB Board had previously elected her to serve the first of an additional possible two three-year terms as ADAA Representative, beginning at the close of the August 2006 DANB Board meeting.) Ms. Schneider currently serves as secretary on the Board of Directors of the North Dakota Dental Foundation and as coordinator for the directors of the ADAA Foundation’s Board of Directors. She previously held offices with the North Dakota Dental Assistants Association, the ADAA Seventh District, and the North Dakota Board of Dental Examiners. Ms. Schneider works as a chairside assistant and office manager in Hettinger, ND.

Secretary (ADAA Representative) – Brenda Fell, CDA, CDPMA
Brenda Fell, CDA, CDPMA, was elected to the position of Secretary on DANB’s Board of Directors. She was elected to the Board in 2003 and is serving her first of a possible two three-year terms as a representative of the ADAA. Ms. Fell earned her CDA credential in 1979 and her Certified Dental Practice Management Administrator credential in 1999. She has been President of the Utah Dental Assistants Association since February 2002, and Director of the ADAA Foundation since 2001. She is currently a Dental Assistant Program Advisor for Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College in Ogden, UT.

DANB’s Board of Directors is comprised of nine representatives from the following stakeholder groups: three members representing the American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA), two members representing the American Dental Association (ADA), one member representing the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), one member representing the American Association of Dental Examiners (AADE), one DANB Certificant elected by his or her peers (Certificant-at-large), and one member who is not from any of these groups, representing the general public (Public Member). Each stakeholder representative is elected to a three-year term, with a maximum of two terms allowed. DANB Executive Director Cynthia Durley, MEd, MBA, is an ex officio member of the DANB Board. For more information on DANB’s governance, including a complete list of the Board of Directors, visit www.danb.org.

DANB is recognized by the American Dental Association as the premier national certification and testing agency for dental assistants. DANB’s certification programs are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). DANB serves the public good by providing a means of identifying qualified and competent dental assistants and by measuring and promoting excellence in oral healthcare delivery. As a Mark of Dental Assisting Excellence™, DANB Certification is a source of pride for those who achieve it. Currently, there are more than 31,000 DANB Certificants nationwide, and DANB credentials are recognized or required in 34 states. For those dental assistants who meet the eligibility and exam requirements, Certification may be earned in one or more of the following areas:

• Certified Dental Assistant – CDA®
• Certified Orthodontic Assistant – COA®
• Certified Dental Practice Management Administrator – CDPMA®

In addition to these three national credentials, DANB offers Certificates of Competency in Radiation Health and Safety (RHS®) and Infection Control (ICE®). The RHS and ICE exams are components of the CDA exam, and ICE is also a component of the COA exam, but individuals may take these components separately in order to earn Certificates of Competency. Passing either or both of these exams allows a dental assistant to demonstrate competence in these two areas that are very important to the health and safety of oral healthcare workers and patients alike.

For more information about DANB, call 1-800-FOR-DANB or visit www.danb.org.

CHICAGO (June 29, 2006) – The Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.® (DANB®) and the American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA) have compiled the results of a survey sent to readers of the Position Paper of the ADAA/DANB Alliance: Addressing a Uniform National Model for the Dental Assisting Profession. Respondents indicate overwhelming support for the development of a uniform national set of tasks, levels, and requirements for assistants, and a career ladder for the dental assisting profession.

Over a quarter of a million dental assistants (266,000) currently practice in the U.S., of which an estimated 75-90% receive all or the majority of their training on the job. At present, there is no nationally accepted set of guidelines that governs the practice of dental assisting in the U.S., and some states have no requirements for dental assistants at all. This great variation in dental assisting requirements across states could negatively affect the quality of oral healthcare delivery. The situation also creates obstacles for the approximately 7,200 assistants who move each year from one U.S. state to another, and for those employer dentists who practice near bordering states.

The Position Paper of the ADAA/DANB Alliance: Addressing a Uniform National Model for the Dental Assisting Profession (September 2005) sets forth a national model for this important health care provider role. The proposed career ladder consists of four “rungs”: Entry Level Dental Assistant, Dental Assistant, DANB Certified Dental Assistant or Registered Dental Assistant, and Expanded Functions Dental Assistant. Each “rung” has its own set of training, education, and/or experience requirements, as well as a list of tasks that dental assistants at that level would be considered competent to perform.

The DANB/ADAA Study to Define and Rank Order Core Competencies for Dental Assistants (2002-05) provides the research which supports this model for dental assisting. Participants in the study rated 70 dental assisting tasks in terms of the training, education, and/or experience they believed should be (not what currently is) required to perform each one. The results reveal that professional practitioners consider certain tasks to merit more education and training than others—a standard that is currently not met nationwide.

In order to solicit feedback from the 730 individuals who received copies of the position paper, the ADAA/DANB Alliance sent readers a survey in December 2005. The purpose of this survey was to determine how readers planned to use the information contained in the paper, how they thought it would benefit oral healthcare, and whether it impacted their viewpoint on the dental assisting profession.

DANB received 115 responses to this survey (a 15.75% response rate) from a group that included dental assistants (both DANB Certified and non-Certified), directors of ADA-accredited dental assisting programs, state dental board members, national dental association staff members, members of U.S. federal agencies, ADAA officers, and dentists/employers. A breakdown of reader responses appears below:

While a few negative comments reflected a concern that DANB and ADAA continue to recognize on-the-job training as an option for entry into a dental assisting career, the high number of affirmative responses reinforce the ADAA/DANB Alliance’s view that it is time to give serious consideration to the adoption of a uniform national dental assisting model that establishes guidelines for the education, training, and credentialing of dental assistants. Understanding that state practice act provisions are the purview of each state, DANB and the ADAA can only make recommendations for these state bodies and their legislatures to consider. It is to be hoped that the conversations and questions initiated by the paper will continue among dental professionals, educators, and legislators in furtherance of this goal.

Visit www.danb.org to download an Executive Summary of the position paper (no charge) or an order form to purchase the paper in its entirety ($15; submit form via fax or mail to DANB). About DANB. DANB is recognized by the American Dental Association as the national Certification and testing agency for dental assistants, and its Certification programs are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). A dental assistant may earn one or more of the following national Certifications: Certified Dental Assistant – CDA®, Certified Orthodontic Assistant – COA®, and Certified Dental Practice Management Administrator – CDPMA®. In addition to the three national credentials, DANB offers Certificates of Competency in Radiation Health and Safety (RHS®) and Infection Control (ICE®). Currently, there are more than 31,000 DANB Certificants nationwide, and DANB credentials are recognized or required in 35 states.

About the ADAA. The ADAA is the oldest, largest group representing professional dental assistants. Established over 80 years ago, the ADAA provides continuing education to dental assistants through home study courses; professional journals; and local, state, and national meetings with educational agendas. It encourages education, registration, and certification for dental assisting professionals while providing a network of personal services for its members. Its members include clinical personnel (those working chairside with the dentist); administrative personnel (the receptionist, office manager, and practice manager); those working behind the scenes in dental product sales and insurance; and educators.

About the ADAA/DANB Alliance. In 2000, the ADAA and DANB formed a joint committee: the ADAA/DANB Ad Hoc Committee to Enhance the Dental Assisting Profession. In 2004, this Committee was renamed the ADAA/DANB Alliance to reflect a long-term commitment to advancements for dental assistants that are mutually beneficial to both organizations and to the profession. The purpose of the ADAA/DANB Alliance is to advance the dental assisting profession and to enhance the delivery of oral healthcare by presenting a united and strengthened voice that reflects all careers within dental assisting.

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For questions or concerns regarding DANB Marketing, contact:

Dawn Capper, Director of Marketing and Communications
Dental Assisting National Board
444 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 900
Chicago, Illinois 60611

Click here to send Dawn an E-Mail!